In the hills between Franklin and Treadwell, where narrow roads trace older routes through pasture and woods, an art tour that began as a modest experiment in the 1990s is preparing to mark its 30th year.
The Stagecoach Run Art Festival, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, July 11 and 12, will once again transform homes, studios and public spaces into a dispersed gallery, featuring the work of more than 40 artists across disciplines including painting, sculpture, ceramics and mixed media.
Founded in 1996, the festival was among the first organized studio tours in the Catskills, emerging alongside a broader cultural awakening in the region. Its name draws from the historic Catskill Turnpike — established in 1804 — which once carried travelers from the Hudson River west toward Pennsylvania. Remnants of that era remain visible today in stone markers along county Route 14 and Main Street in Franklin, quiet signposts to a more itinerant past.
The modern iteration preserves that spirit of movement. Visitors navigate the festival at their own pace, following maps that guide them from venue to venue across the countryside. At each stop, artists are present to discuss their work, offering a level of access that traditional gallery settings rarely allow. Many pieces are available for purchase.
This year’s anniversary observance begins earlier, with the opening of a “Spotlight Show” June 20 at Bright Hill Press in Treadwell. The exhibition brings together a representative piece from each participating artist and will remain on view through the close of the festival. Proceeds from sales support both the artists and the hosting institution.
Organized by an all-volunteer committee, the Stagecoach Run has long depended on the strength of the local arts community in Franklin and its neighboring hamlet. Over three decades, it has evolved into both a showcase and an economic driver, drawing visitors to an area defined as much by its landscape as by its creative output.
During the festival weekend, dining options in Franklin offer additional points of gathering, extending the experience beyond the studios themselves.
For additional information visit stagecoachrun.com
